Crimea was handed over to Ukraine under Khrushchev in the 1950’s. A LOT of Crimean residents, most, identified as Russians and were incensed over the hand-over. It is still largely a Russian-identifying region.
I haven't heard of any mass rebellions going on since this happened as one would expect if the referendum was "fixed". Only the Nazis loyal to the Kiev regime got their swastikas in wad about it.
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BBC: Crimea referendum: Voters 'back Russia union'
Some 95.5% of voters in Crimea have supported joining Russia, officials say, after half the votes have been counted in a disputed referendum.
Crimea's leader says he will apply to join Russia on Monday. Russia's Vladimir Putin has said he will respect the Crimean people's wishes.
Many Crimeans loyal to Kiev boycotted the referendum, and the EU and US condemned it as illegal.
Pro-Russian forces took control of Crimea in February.
They moved in after Ukraine's pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted after street protests."